And ebenezer



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

T. MCBRIDE 8v E. FISHER.

STEAM GENERATOR.

l Ze- Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

Tm: scams Farms ca How-wma, wAsNmmoN, u c.

A T. MGBRIDE KU'BFISHER.

Na. 487,195. n Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

(No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet s,

T. MQBRIDE & E'. FISHER. STEAM GENERATOR.

No. 487,195. 'Patented Nov. 29.1892.

Y; TH: Noms Ferias co. lmorauwo., wAswNa'roN, D. c

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(NQ Model.)

T. MGBRIDE 8a E. FISHER. STEAM GENERATOR. No. 487,195.

Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

WE/vio@ J m w UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MCBRIDE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND EBENEZER FISHER, OFKINCARDINE, CANADA.

STEAM-G EN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,195, dated November29, 1892.

Application 'lled August 30, 1892. Serial No. 444,557. (No model.)

To a/,ZZ whom/tt may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS MCBRIDE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, and EBENEZER FISHER, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Kincardine, Province of Ontario, Canada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Generators; and wedo hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part thereof.

The herein-described invention relates to new and useful improvements insteam-generators in which the steam is generated in water-tubes anddischarged or collected in a suitable receiver, with which are connectedwater-circulating drums or chambers forsupplying the water-tubes andkeeping up a uniform circulation of the water of the generator.

The important object of the present invention has been to so construct asteam-generator embodying the general principle of the above-mentionedclass of generators that. the best results may be obtained as to thequality and quantity of the steam generated, the quickness anduniformity of its generation, and to make it only possible under allcondi tions to take dry steam alone from the generator.

Further, theinvention has forits object the complete combustion of suchgases that are condensed or cooled off by contact with the water-tubesand which ordinarily are deposited in the form of soot'or carried offwith other products of combustion.

The invention also has other minor objects effected bythe form ofconstruction employed and the arrangement of the essential parts of thegenerator, which will be hereinafter referred to.

Primarily the invention consists in asteam drum or chamber, with whichare connected the upper or discharge ends of the watertubes at the topportion thereof and water circulating pipes or chambers extendingdownward from the steam drum or chamber and thence to the rear of thefire-chamber,

where communication is made with the water-tubes, said steam drum orchamber and water-circulating pipes or chambers being located outside ofthe fire-chamber and protected from the heat thereof, whereby a moreeffective circulation is produced and the steam prevented from taking upmoisture.

'The invention further consists in certain novel features as to theconstruction and combination of parts and as to which the adapt-4ability of the generator for use in steamlaunches and other boats formsthe main con sideration.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the invention is fullyillustrated, Figure l represents a View ofthe steam-generator in front Ielevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on theline a: fr of Fig. l. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of one-half of thegenerator, a sectional view being shown of the casing, taken on the liney y of Fig. l. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views ot the construction of thedoor of the lire-chamber and the ends of the rear drum or water-chamber,rcspectively. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a section of asbestus andclay lining of the firechamber. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of thecombined separator and water shield, the same being removed from thesteam-drum.

In referring to the drawings by letter the general construction of thegenerator will be given and the principal parts thereof designatedbefore a more specific description is entered into.

The generator comprises the fire-chamber A, the water-tubes B, part ofwhich are arranged within said fire-chamber and part within the path ofthe flame on its way to the stack, the steam drum or chamber C, withwhich the water-tubes B communicate and in which the steam generated insaid watertubes is collected, the vertical water drums or chambers D,communicating with the bottom of the steam drum or chamber C at theirupper ends and at their lower ends with the horizontal water-circulatingdrums or chambers E, which, together with the vertical chambers D,constitute a system of water-circulating pipes for returning the waterto the water-tubes through the rear drum or chamber F, located at therear of thevflre-chamber, and thus keeping up a constantand uniformcirculation of the water of the generator.

The casing G of the generator is made to inclose the water-tubes andtire-chamber, but to leave the steam drum or receiver and water returnor circulating drums outside of the fire-chamber and practicallyinsulated from the heat of the same. It is with relation to this featurethat one of the important points of the invention is made possible. Thesteam drum or chamber C, forming the essential element of the generator,is in the form of a cylinder or drum having a length equal to twice itswidth, more or less, and arranged at right angles to the direction ofthe watertubes, which, when the generator is located in a boat, run withthe boats length andy eX- tend longitudinally of the fire-chamber. Thiscylinder or drum C, which is of boiler construction, performs thefunction of 'a receiving-chamber into which the steam is discharged fromthe water-tubes B and. to which at the center of its topis connected thesteampipe H. This t-ransversearrangement of the steam-drum C and the.central connection of the steam-pipe therewith at the top of same is oneof great importance when the generator is applied to boats, as theoft-recurring filling of the steam-pipe with water by the change of thewater-level in the generator or steam-drum,owing to the rolling orpitching of the boat, is entirely obviated, while it is otherwise insuch generators where thesteamg chaniberis arranged longitudinally withthe boat and has its steam-pipe connectedatone end or near the same.This transverse arrangement of the steam-drum C also allows thelongitudinal arrange-ment of the watertubes within the boat, thusproviding greater and more convenient space and the use of longerwater-tubes, and hence a greater-heat-4 ing area. The longitudinalarrangement of the water-tubes is further required by the system ofcirculation formingacoacting feature of thegenerator and which providesfor the re` turnofall the waterto the rear ofthe fire-charnber, Whereall the tubes will take up. the. Wateralike and prevent an unequalheating and a consequent irregular circulation, whichy would be a great'objection and prevent the attainment of the results desired-t'. a, astrong and uniform circulation. By the construction shown all the tubesget substantially the same heating, and, connecting with thewater-circulating system at the extreme end of the tire-chamber, all thewater istalen up by the tubes at thesame point and nov irregularity inthe circulation can be possible, asy would be the case were thewater-tubes located at different points in the length of thefire-chamber and connected to a longitudinally-arranged water-drum, asthe more in` tensely-heated of the tubes would. short-,circuit thecirculation and make it irregular throughout. The water-tubes are i-ntheir direction upward and forward, connecting the rear drum of the`water-circulation located at the base and the steam drum or receiver C,located in the front portion of the generator above the door I to thelire-chamber. The general form of the collection of tubes, which for themost part are parallel, is that of an upward curve with a centraldepression to allow the same to extend down into the tirechamber as muchas possible to increase the area of heating-surface and do away with theunnecessary space in the fire-chamber which would result were the tubesstraight.

The water-tubes are divided into two coll'ections, the lower half beingseparated from the upper half from the point J forward by means of oneof the rows of tubes being dropped down into the space between the tubesof the row next below, thus forming a crown-sheet and separati-ng onecollection from the other and causing the lower body of tubes to extendin the fire-chamber, while the upper body from point J is located in thepath of the iame, though within the casing of the generator. The dame,by this arrangement, instead of going directly upward through all thetubes, is carried back to the rear of the fire-chamber where it passesthroughl the openings between the tubes directly at the base, while onthe whole the flame is confined within the tire-chamber and among thetubes as long as possible to get the bestl heating results. To moreeffectuallyeut the iiame off from goingupwardly and through the spacesbetween the tubes, but to cause it to take the more circuitous rou-teshown, and thus keep the heat in the space around the water-tubes, apacking of asbestus is provi-ded between the two bodies of tubes asseparated by the crown-sheet and designated by the letter K. The tire isthus directed. to the rear of the chamber, where it can pass between thetubes at their lower ends and into the space in which are assembled theupper'bodfy of tubes, passing between the samealong-their entire length,and outA through the stack L. At the connections of the water-tube withthe drum F and the receiver C is provided avpacking or lining ofasbestus or asbestus and clay, which not only effectually insulates thesaid drum F andreceiver C from the fire-chamber, but also. brings thejoints of the watertubes outside of the fire-chamber,- so that in this.construction of generator there are no joints in the water-tube withinthe hre-chamber. Both the front wall and the top of the casing of thefire-chamber are provided with a lining of asbestus, or, preferably,with asbestusand clay formedI into a sheet loymeans of a connecting-webof wire screen, which is bolted firmly to the interior of the casing,the clay surface being exposed tothe dames. This lining is shown at M inthe drawings and its construction illustrated by theview in Fig. 6.

Between the steamY drum or receiver Grand,l the front wall o f thecasing G is filled a packing of asbestus N, which further insures theIOO IIO

exclusion of heat from the steam-drum from the fire-chamber. t

The water-level of the boiler when properly setwill be at about the linee' e', it being desired to slightly raise the front of the generator toallow the grate-bars Oto be rearwardly inclined, thus permitting theready access of air to the fire-chamber. The steam-drum C, while servingmainly as a receiver for the steam, is also designed to assist thecirculation of the water and to collect such of the water as will beejected from the water-tubes with the steam and prevent it from beingtaken up by the steam, and thereby producing moist steam; but by thepresent device only dry steam can be taken from the generator. For thispurpose the steam drum or receiver is provided with a splash-plate orseparator P of special construction, against which the steam, togetherwith such water or bubbles as may accompany it, is ejected, the

y dry steam freeing itself and accumulating in the steam-space of thereceiver,while the water is allowed to run down the surface of theseparator-plate to the water forming the supply for the water-tubes, andthis body of water being protected from the fire generates steam withinthe steam-receiver, and hence cannot affect the character' of the steamcoming from the water-tube and freed of its water by the separator.Without deteriorating the quality of steam, the quiet body of waterwithin the steam-drum C brings about a stronger circulation by reason ofits being unheated from any outside source, as would be the case werethe heat of the tire-chamber allowed to penetrate its shell, andtherefore there is no tendency for the water to draw away from thetubes; but the whole circulation is downward through the vertical drum Dand to the rear drum F through the horizontal drums E, all of which arelocated outside of the fire-chamber, the fire-chamber being confined tothat portion inclosed by them.

The splash-plate or separator Pis in the forni of a curved sheet ofmetal extending nearly the entire length of the steam-drum and followingnearly the curve of the same in front of that portion where thewater-tubes make their connection therewith. The splashplate orseparator extends about to the waterline on its first outward curve,whence it bends inwardly and upward and then in coutinuation of thecurve is carried downward to the bottom of the drum, where it issecurely fastened at Q. The upper edge of the separator Pis rmly boltedtothe top of the steamdrum at R alongaline just behind the steampipeopening, and therefore prevents any of the steam from going directlyintothe steampipe before being freed of its moisture, while by means of thereturn or under bend S of the separatonplate a shield or roof isprovided over the water in the bottom of the drum, which incloses thesteam-space and protects the dry steam from any splashings of waterwhich might occur from any of the well-known causes, it being understoodthat dry steam will readily take up moisture, and hence reduce itsquality. Therefore the separator thus combined within the steam-drum notonly protects the steam-pipe but acts, also, as a water-shield to thesteam-space of the drum.

The generator, in addition to the construction and arrangement of theWater-tubes, circulating system, and steam-receiver, is designed withspecial construction as to itsftirechamber to the end that all theavailable products of combustion may be utilized in heating the watertubes. In such boiler where the products of combustion pass betweenwater-tubes before being thoroughly converted into heat there is alwaysa cooling oft' or condensation of some of the gases by contact with thecomparatively-low temperature ofthe water-tubes, which results in thesegases being carried off or deposited in the form of soot without gettingtherefrom the heat-units contained therein. Vith a view to provide forthe combustion of these gases and prevent as much as possible thecooling of the same the rear of the iire-chamber at the point where theflame passes between the tubes is enlarged by causing the casing to bebulged outward and extended somewhat hack of the tubes, so that a spacewill be formed around the sides and rear of the collection ofwater-tubes, as at T, into which the` flame will pass without crowdingitself between. the water-tubes, and such portion of the flame as isdirected around the tubes to the rear will be d-irected back between thetubes before taking its upward course to the stack, thus preventing thecondensation of gases to a great extent and igniting and combusting anythat may be cooled 0E by the tubes. The increased space, due to theenlarging of the fire-chamber at its rear, ad mits, also, more air tothe flame at a point where its complete combustion requires it.

The generator is provided with the usual glass gages, duc., and thefeed-water of the generator enters by thel pipe W at one end of thesteam-drum C and is perforated throughout its length to distribute thewater.

That the operation of the generator may be fully understood in all itsfunctions a brief outline of the same is here given. The generator beingfilled with Water to the line indicating the water-levels e, the heat oft-he .tirechamber is only directed on the water-tubes and not on thesteam-drum C or any of the water-circulatingdrums. Thesewater-tubes,being located part within the fire-chamber proper while part extend inthe path of the flame, receive all the heat, except that whichordinarily will escape through the stack, and within the tubes all thesteam is generated, the arrangement being such that the steam in thesteam-space of the tubes above the water-line will receive asuperheating. All the water-tubes connecting with the transversewater-drum at the rear of the hre-cham- IIO ber, the circulation of thewater in the steamdrum C, vertical drums, and horizontal drums will beto the rear, and the tubes receiving a uniform heating and connecting atsubst-antially the same point with reference to the fire-chamber thecirculation of the water within the generator is uniform throughout. Thesteam generated is discharged into the steam-drum C against thesplash-plate or separator P, which frees the steam of any water whichmay accompany it in the form of drops or bubbles and allow only the drysteam to accumulate in the steam-d rum, while the water is returned tothe bottom of the steam-drum and forms a part of the circulating bodywithin the water-drums. The steamdrum C receiving no heating from thetirechamber, the circulation of the water is made stronger, the heatingbeing only accomplished at one point in the system-t'. e., within thewater-space of the water-tubes-and the tubes all drawing from the reardrum. Hence the circulation is all one way and none but absolutely drysteam allowed to lill the steamspace of the steam-drinn and to be takentherefrom.

Having thus described and fully setforth our invention, what we claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A steam-generator of the character described, comprising asteam drumor receiver, water-tubes connecting with same at their upper or steamends and extending longitudinal-ly within the fire-chamber, a water-drumto which said water-tubes connect, arranged at the rear of thefire-chamber and transversely thereto, the vertical pipes or chamberscommunicating with the bottom of the steam-drum at each end and withhorizontal pipes at their lower ends, which horizontal pipes or chambersconnect with the rear water-drum at its ends, said steam-drum andwater-chambers being located wholly without the fire-chamber,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. A steam-generator of the character described, comprising the steamdrum or receiver, the water-drum located at the rear of the tire-chamberand arranged transversely thereto, the water-tubes extendinglongitudinally of said fire-chamber and connecting with the saidwater-drum at their lower ends and with the steam drum or receiver attheir upper ends, water pipes or chambers extending downward vfrom thesteam-drum on each side of the tire-chamber and water pipes or chambersextending along the length of said fire-chamber on each side thereof andconnecting, respectively, with the ends of rear drum, of water-tubesconnected therewith at their discharge ends and at their lower ends witha Water-drum, water-chambers connecting the steam-drum with thewater-drum, and a splash-plate located within the said steamdrum havingits upper-edge secured to the top of the drum and its lower edge to thebottom of the same and extending down in front of the discharge-openingsof the water-tubes and over the level of the water in said drum,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

t. The combination, in a steam-generator, of the steam drum or receiverhaving the water-tubes connected therewith and waterchambers connectingthe same with the water-tubes with the combined separatorandwater-shield located within the said steamdrum extending downward fromthe top in front of the .water -tube openings, thence curved upwardlyand arched over the waterlevel of the drum, said combined separator andshield being secured to the top of the drum at its upper portion and atits bottom to the side or bottom of the drum, substantially asdescribed.

5. A steam-generator comprising a steam drum or receiver,water-tubesconnected therewith, extending longitudinally Within the casing of thelire-chamber and connecting with the water-chamber at the rear of the{ire-chamber, a partition dividing the collection of water-tubes into anupper and a lower body and directing the dame to the rear of thetirechamber around the said partition and between the upper body oftubes on its way to the stack, and an enlarged passage for the productsof combustion around the said water-tubes at the rear of there-chamber,sub stantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS MCBRlDE. EBENEZER FISH-ER. Witnesses:

PETER MCBRIDE, GEORGE MCBRIDE.

